A study from China suggests that a combination of moxibustion and acupuncture can relieve inflammation and repair the damaged intestinal epithelial barrier in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Sixty patients diagnosed with mild to moderate CD were allocated to two groups. One group received the drug mesalazine (1g tablets four times daily for 12 weeks), while the other group received moxibustion combined with acupuncture (M&A). In the M&A group two sets of acupoints were used alternately – Set A: Tianshu ST-25, Qihai REN-6 and Shuifen REN-9 for moxibustion plus Zusanli ST-36, Shangjuxu ST-37, Quchi L.I.-11 and Hegu L.I.4 for acupuncture,...Weiterlesen

A Chinese herbal formula had been found to be effective for functional constipation by a study carried out in Hong Kong. The formula Ma Zi Ren Wan (MZRW – composed of Huo Ma Ren [Fructus Cannabis], Da Huang [Radix et Rhizoma Rhei], Bai Shao [Radix Paeoniae Alba], Xing Ren [Semen Armeniacae Amarum], Zhi Shi [Fructus Aurantii Immaturus] and Hou Pu [Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis]) was first mentioned as a treatment for constipation in the Shang Han Lun (Discussion of Cold-induced Disorders). As part of a prospective, randomised controlled clinical trial, 120 subjects with functional constipation were randomised into two groups. One group received...Weiterlesen

ABSTRACT Introduction Diabetes mellitus is a major global health problem. Needling at CV-12 has reduced blood glucose level in diabetic rats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of needling at CV-12 (Zhongwan) on blood glucose level in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Materials and Methods Forty T2DM patients were recruited and randomized into either the acupuncture group or placebo control group. The participants in the acupuncture group were needled at CV-12 (4 cun above the center of the umbilicus), and those in the placebo control group were needled at a placebo point on the right side of the abdomen (1 cun beside the CV-12). For both groups,...Weiterlesen

A study from China suggests that Jianpi Qingchang Decoction (JQD) can be used to relieve symptoms in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). A total of 120 patients with active UC, diagnosed with the TCM pattern of Spleen deficiency and damp-heat, were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in the treatment group were treated with JQD (Huang Qi [Radix Astragali], Huang Lian [Rhizoma Coptidis], Dang Shen [Radix Codonopsis], Ma Chi Xian [Herba Portulacae], Sheng Di Yu [Radix Sanguisorbae], San Qi [Radix Notoginseng] Bai Ji [Rhizoma Bletillae] Mu XIang [Radix Aucklandiae], and Sheng Gan Cao [Radix Glycyrrhizae]), while patients in control group...Weiterlesen

An experimental study had found that acupuncture at the ‘Four Gates’ (Siguan) can normalise accelerated gastrointestinal (GI) motility. In a Korean experiment, 21 healthy male subjects were randomly allocated to either a real acupuncture group (needled at bilateral Hegu L.I.-4 and Taichong LIV-3) or a sham acupuncture group (needled at non-acupoints two to three centimetres lateral from Hegu L.I.-4 and Taichong LIV-3). In order to induce excessive and accelerated GI motility, subjects were administered the drug mosapride citrate for two days, starting 24 hours before the first acupuncture treatment. All participants were also administered radioisotope markers immediately before the first...Weiterlesen

ABSTRACT Background Subclinical hypothyroidism, a thyroid disorder without obvious symptoms of thyroid deficiency, occurs in 3%–8% of the global population. Ashwagandha [Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal], a traditional medicine in Ayurveda, is often prescribed for thyroid dysfunctions. Objective This pilot study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ashwagandha root extract in subclinical hypothyroid patients. Design, Setting, and Participants A prospective, randomized, double-blind, single-center placebo-controlled study was performed at Sudbhawana Hospital, Varanasi, India between May 2016 and September 2016. Fifty subjects with elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels (4.5–10 μIU/L) aged between 18 and 50 were randomized in either...Weiterlesen

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and side effects of acupuncture, sham acupuncture and drugs in the treatment of chronic constipation. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of acupuncture and drugs for chronic constipation were comprehensively retrieved from electronic databases (such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP Database and CBM) up to December 2017. Additional references were obtained from review articles. With quality evaluations and data extraction, a network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed using a random-effects model under a frequentist framework. A total of 40 studies (n = 11032) were included:...Weiterlesen

Traditional Chinese herbal medicines can slow the progression from pre-diabetes to diabetes according to a study from China. “…” The herbal formula known as ‘Tianqi capsule’, which contains 10 Chinese herbs (Huang Qi [Astragali Radix], Huang Lian [Coptidis Rhizoma], Tian Hua Fen [Trichosanthis Radix], Nu Zhen Zi [Ligustri Lucidi Fructus], Tie Pi Shi Hu [Dendrobii Caulis], Ren Shen [Ginseng Radix], Di Gu Pi [Lycii Cortex], Mo Han Lian [Ecliptae Herba], Wu Bei Zi [Galla Chinensis] and Shan Zhu Yu [Corni Fructus]) is widely used in China for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A multi-centre RCT enrolled 420...Weiterlesen

A herbal formula has been shown to heal diabetic foot ulcers and help to prevent amputations. Researchers from Hong Kong conducted a randomised, placebo-controlled trial involving 80 patients with diabetic ulcers. All patients received standard treatment (adequate diabetic control, antibiotics and daily wound dressing) plus either herbal medicine or a placebo drink, twice daily for four weeks. The herbal medicine used granules made from a boiled decoction of twelve herbs, including Huang Qi (Astragali Radix) Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) and Bai Zhu (Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma). After four weeks of treatment, 18 patients had not shown satisfactory improvement (ulcer remained...Weiterlesen

Jujuba-Tee plus Diät erweist sich als effiziente Maßnahme zur Regulierung diabetesspezifischer Werte Seit über 2500 Jahren wird die Frucht des Jujube-Baums (Ziziphus jujuba), auch als Chinesische Dattel bekannt, in China für gesundheitliche Zwecke eingesetzt. Die roten Jujube-Früchte werden traditionell, je nach Indikation in frischer oder getrockneter Form, als Teeaufguss, Wein oder Sirup bei Beschwerden wie Stresszuständen, Appetit- und Schlaflosigkeit, Verdauungsproblemen, Herzrhythmusstörungen und erhöhtem Blutdruck verabreicht. Bisher existieren nur vereinzelte wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zu den gesundheitlichen Effekten der chinesischen Jujube; diese zeigten unter anderem positive Tendenzen bei Hautkrebs und Haarausfall. Da die Jujube-Frucht neben zahlreichen Vitaminen und Mineralien sowie pflanzlichen Inhaltsstoffen wie...Weiterlesen